Fitting stool



Jan. 31, 1961 H. HENRY 2,969,829

FITTING STOOL Filed Jan. 29, 1959 INVENTOR. HAROLD LEROY l/EWRI AYYORNFYS United States Patent C FI'I'IING STOOL Harold Leroy Henry, 121 E. Main St., Hillsboro, Ohio Filed Jan. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 789,897 Claims. (Cl. 155-35 This invention relates to fitting stools and in particular to an improved fitting stool for use in retail shoe outlets.

In the past it has been common practicein retail shoe outlets to have fitting stools on which the shoe fitter sits and which has an inclined platform on which the .shoe purchaser can rest his foot which makes-it a convenient arrangement for putting the .shoe on the foot.

The measuring of the foot, however, is always accomplished by using a measuring device separate from the stool so that in the fitting of the shoes the fitter must first find the measuring device and then measure the customers feet before selecting shoes to commence the fitting opera- 7 present invention is to provide an improved fitting stool for retail shoe outlets in which the drawbacks referred to above are eliminated.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a fitting stool especially adapted for use in retail shoe outlets in which the platform of the stool is at one time a fitting device and a rest platform for the foot.

y A still further object of this invention is the provision of a fitting stool for retail shoe outlets in which the inclined platform is rotatable so that both sides thereof are immediately available for use.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a simple fitting stool arrangement having a rotatable foot platform thereon with a fitting device attached thereto in a novel manner so that it can be used for either the right foot or the left foot with equal convenience.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an arrangement for attaching fitting devices of known types to a swivel platform in a fitting stool whereby the fitting stool assumes a dual purpose as described above.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of the fitting stool according to my invention showing the platform in position forfitting a shoe to a purchasers foot;

Figure 2 is a sectional view indicated by line 22 on Figure l and partly broken away with the view drawn at enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure l but showing the platform swiveled into position for measuring the purchasers feet;

.Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the platform and the several parts pertaining thereto;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by line 55 on Figure 1 showing the manner of connecting the parts of the frame together;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by line 6-6 on Figure 1 showing a latch mechanism for "retaining the platform in its two operative positions in be ic Referring tothe drawings somewhat more in detail, the fitting stool according to this invention comprises a tubular frame which may be made up of side members 10 and 12 with a plurality of transversely extending brace members 14, 16 and.18.

h The horizontally extending upper portions of the side frame. members 10 and 12 support an upholstered seat 20 and between the-inclined forward portions of side frame members 1 0 -and 12 i s.a-platform 22 which is pivotedby ipivot pins .24 and '26 between the transversely extending .frame :inembers :16 and. 18. a

The transversely extending frame-members may be'conneoted with theside frame members 10 and 12 as illustratedinFigure i5wherein it :willbe seen that there is ascrew28 extending through side frame member 10 and engaginga resilient plate-like nut 30 which is pressed intothe end of the side frame member 14.

The pins 24 and 26 previously referred to are pressed into bosses 32 and 34 provided at opposite ends of platform 22 and these pins extend into apertures in the centers of transverse members 16 and 18. The assembling of the platform with the frame is accomplished by fixing one of the transverse members in position, placing the platform in positonand then attaching the second of the transverse members in position in the frame. This eliminates threaded pivot pins but at the same time permits the platform to be removed if necessary. The platform is advantageously .acast aluminum member and one side is recessed for receiving a piece of carpeting 36 that may be adhered to the platform by cement and which would perrnit replacement of the carpeting should it become worn or disfigured.

The other side. of the platform is substantially flat except an upstanding boss 38 in about the center thereof and on which boss there is pivotally supported a foot measuring device generally indicated at 40. This foot measuring device can be any of several types and as illustrated comprises a device known in the trade as a Brannock device.

The measuring device consists generally of a base part 42 having a heel cup 44 at each end with a graduated plate 46 extending between the heel cups and on which graduated plate an indication is given of the foot length when .the foot, is .placed'inone of the heel cups. 'The base plate has laterally extending Wings and slidably mounted on one thereof is a slide member 48 which can be brought against the side of the foot toward the-outside thus giving a measurement of foot width. In the other wing is a recessed member 50 slidable longitudinally in a slot and which is adapted for engaging the joint in the foot at the base of the big toe.

The three indications that are thus obtained givea reliable starting point for selecting a shoe size to fit the foot so measured. I

According to the present invention the foot measuring device above described is pivotally mounted on platform 22 so that either the right or the left foot can be measured and this is accomplished either by forming the back of the foot measuring device so that it will engage boss 38 or, in the case of existing devices, say, of the .Brannock type, which are constructed for manual operation, there can bean adapter plate 52 attached to the back of the device by screws 54 and which adapter plate has a flat back surface between which and the upper surface of boss 38 there can be inserted a friction disc 56. A screw 58 extending through the platform from the carpeting side threaded into the adapter plate SZ-and thus' clamps the fitting device to the platform so that the fitting device can be rotated between its two operative positions. 7

A spring 60 under the head of screw 58 maintains pressure n the -frict iondis c so that the fitting device will be retained .in its turned positions.

the frame as by screw 72 and havingan arcuate nose portion 74 with a slot or notch 76 for receiving the nylon pins. A spring 78 biases the latch member into pin engaging position and the latch is prevented from moving beyond a predetermined inner position by the lower end portion 80 thereof that engages the side member of the stool frame. A thumb piece 82 is provided on the latch so that when it is desired to rotate the platform from foot measuring position to fitting position, the latch is merely retracted, the platform tilted, the latch released, and the platform rotation is completed whereupon the latch will automatically engage the nylon pin brought thereagainst. The use of nylon pins provides a means whereby the latch mechanism can periodically be renewed since all of the wear will take place on the nylon pins, and also prevents a metallic clang when the table latches into position after being rotated. Metal pins could, of course, be used.

It will be evident at this point that the platform could be arranged to pivot about a transverse axis if so de sired but it is preferred to pivot the platform at its ends because less space is required to accommodate the pivoting table.

It will also be noted that the present invention contemplates adapting existing foot measuring devices arranged for manual manipulation to the structure of the present invention by the provision of an adapter plate that can be attached to the foot measuring device and in turn be pivotally supported on the platform.

It will also be evident that the arrangement of the present invention is very convenient and rapid to use and thus greatly increasing the efliciency with which fitters in retain shoe outlets can operate and providing for increased customer satisfaction.

The particular materials employed are not those necesassasse sarily identified in the description but satisfactory strucaluminum casting although it will be evident that this member could be non-metallic if desired.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fitting stool for the measuring of feet and the fitting of shoes thereto, a frame comprising an inclined front portion and a horizontal upper portion, a seat on the upper portion, a table rotatable in the said inclined forward portion, latch means for retaining the table in two inverted positions in said front portion where the table is coplanar with said forward portion, said table comprising a foot measuring device mounted on one side thereof and having an unobstructed surface on the other side thereof, a pivot screw extending through the table and engaging the foot measuring device in about the center thereof so that the foot measuring device can be inverted on the table, spring means between the table and the head of said screw on the side of the table opposite the said foot measuring device, and a disc of friction material interposed between the foot measuring device and the table.

2. In a fitting stool for use in retail shoe outlets; a tubular frame having an inclined forward portion and a horizontal upper portion, a seat attached to said horizontal upper portion, spaced horizontal bars in the inclined forward portion of the frame, a rectangular table in the space between the sides of said frame and between said bars, pivot means pivotally supporting said table for rotation between two operative positions where the table is coplanar with the said forward portion of the frame, latch means on the frame for holding the table in its two said operative positions, a foot measuring device on one side of the table, an adapter member attached to the back of the foot measuring device and having a planar surface on the side toward the table, a boss upstanding from the table, a friction disc between the surface of the boss and the .back of said adapter member, a pivot screw extend- .ing through the table and attached to the adapter member, a recess in the table on the side opposite the boss for receiving the head of said screw and spring means between the bottom of the recess and the head of the screw to develop pressure on said friction disc, the arrangement being such that the foot measuring device can be inverted on the table for measuring either foot, and the side of said table opposite the measuring device being flat and carpeted.

3. In a fitting stool for use in retail shoe outlets; a tubular frame having an inclined forward portion and a horizontal upper portion, a seat attached to said horizontal upper portion, spaced horizontal bars in the inclined forward portion of the frame, a rectangular table in the space between the sides of said frame and between said bars, pivot means pivotally supporting said table for rotation between two operative positions Where the table is coplanar with the said forward portion of the frame, latch means on the frame for holding the table in its two said operative positions, a foot measuring device on one side of the table, an adapter member attached to the back of the foot measuring device and having a planar surface on the side toward the table, a boss upstanding from the table, a friction disc between the surface of the boss and the back of said adapter member, a pivot screw extending through the table and attached to the adapter member, a recess in the table on the side opposite the boss for receiving the head of said screw and spring means between the bottom of the recess and the head of the screw to develop pressure on said friction disc, the arrangement being such that the foot measuring device can be inverted on the table for measuring either foot, and the side of said table opposite the measuring device being flat and carpeted, the periphery of said table on the said other side thereof being upstanding so as to enclose the edge of said carpeting.

4. In a fitting stool for the measuring of feet and the fitting of shoes thereto, a frame comprising an inclined front portion and a horizontal upper portion, a seat on the upper portion, a table rotatable in the said inclined forward portion, latch means for retaining the table in two inverted positions in said front portion where the table .is coplanar with said forward portion, said table comprising a foot measuring device mounted on one side thereof and having an unobstructed surface on the other side thereof, means located in about the center of the table and about the center of the foot measuring device interconnecting the foot measuring device with the table for rotation of the foot measuring device in its plane for positioning thereof in two inverted positions, and means for retaining the foot measuring device in each of its said inverted positions.

5. A fitting stool according to claim 4 in which the last mentioned means comprises friction means interposed between the foot measuring device and the table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,052,750 Phillips Feb. 11, 1913 1,384,675 Riley July 12, 1921 1,697,900 Beard Ian. 8, 1929 1,725,334 Brannock Aug, 20, 1929 

